Alex McLeish looks to Charles N’Zogbia to take Aston Villa through

ALEX McLEISH will try to keep his hands on the Carling Cup tonight by asking £9million winger Charles N’Zogbia to take Aston Villa through.

Alex McLeish believes Charles N’Zogbia needs more games to find form at Aston Villa []

N’Zogbia has been disappointing since his big-money arrival from Wigan, but manager McLeish believes he only needs more games to find his best form.

Injury may sideline Darren Bent, Emile Heskey, Jermaine Jenas, Carlos Cuellar and Ciaran Clark for the visit of Bolton. But though Aston Villa were unconvincing in their 1-1 draw against Newcastle on Saturday, they are unbeaten this season.

McLeish, who wants N’Zogbia to help continue that run, won the Carling Cup with Birmingham City last season before quitting and moving across the city to fierce rivals Villa.

“N’Zogbia will probably have to play because we have got a lot of injuries,” said McLeish. “He has just got to find his top level. He’s getting into good positions, so it’s just that final ball and then he’ll be off and running.

“We’ve seen what N’Zogbia can do, so we know there’s no doubt that he has got top quality. He’s a proud guy as well, and he’ll keep working hard to get to his best.

Shay Given, who was a team-mate of N’Zogbia’s at Newcastle, believes he is lacking a bit of confidence. “We saw last season at Wigan how good a player Charles is with his goals and the way he causes problems for defences,” said the goalkeeper.

“This is a big move for him and with a big price tag. But he is still quite young, so you have to give him a bit of time.

“Confidence is such a big thing for players. Hopefully, though, he’ll nick a goal or set one up and that will provide the lift he needs. I know the Villa fans haven’t seen it yet, but if they give him time I am sure they will soon see the best of N’Zogbia.”

Villa will pick as strong a line- up as possible for this all-Premier League showdown, with McLeish adding: “I won’t know until we do a roll call just who we will have available.

“But I think we’ll have to call two or three of the young players up from the reserve team. The bench will be very young.”

England striker Bent is suffering with a groin problem, and McLeish said: “He is vital to any ambitions we have, and we have to get him right. There is potentially a great partnership between Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor.

“If we can keep those two fit they’ll cause any defence problems. Agbonlahor is in great form and Bent, I know, is as keen as mustard to get on the scoring lists again.”

Jenas has a chance of making his debut with a thigh strain clearing up, but McLeish said: “I can’t force players to play with injuries that might turn out to be something more nasty in the long term.”

Midfielder Stuart Holden will make his first Bolton appearance since suffering a knee injury against Manchester United last March.

Manager Owen Coyle, who led his side to the FA Cup semi-finals last season, said: “Stuart will start, which is a boost. And we’ll see how far he has progressed.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy hit back at Joey Barton’s Twitter taunts, and insisted Karl Henry is no ‘Sunday league player’.

QPR midfielder Barton sniped at Wolves and midfielder Henry after a 3-0 win there on Saturday.

But McCarthy, whose side face his old team Millwall tonight, said: “I generally like to tell people things to their face and not via any media outlet.

“But I will say that Karl is one of the best professionals I have ever worked with.”